Final Score: Broncos 24, Chargers 17

All week long, the focus was on San Diego’s running game and propensity to dominate time of possession.

The Chargers had held the ball for 38:03 of the teams’ first meeting in Week 10, and for 38:49 in the rematch five weeks later.

But Denver flipped the script on Sunday, holding the ball for 35:27 and running out the clock on San Diego’s five-game winning streak with a 24-17 (Gamebook) victory.

The Broncos will host the Patriots next Sunday at 3pm ET in the AFC Championship, with the winner advancing to Super Bowl 48 in New Jersey against either Seattle or San Francisco.

San Diego had averaged 170.2 rushing yards over its five-game run, but Denver held them to just 65 yards and one rushing first down.

Denver got a pair of big sacks on San Diego’s opening drive, which was extended by a face mask penalty against Malik Jackson.

That helped push the Broncos’ first possession to start at their own 14, but no matter; they motored 86 yards on 14 plays, converted two third downs, consumed 7:01 in game clock, and scored on a two-yard pass from Peyton Manning to Demaryius Thomas.

A stout Denver run defense and a loud SAF@MH crowd combined to force a Chargers three-and-out, and the Broncos took over at their own 42 after a nice punt return from Eric Decker.

But a third down pass to Julius Thomas resulted in a questionable fumble that was upheld under video review, giving San Diego the ball at their 44.

Although the Chargers moved quickly into field goal range, Nick Novak yanked his 53-yard attempt wide left, leaving the Broncos with great field position at their 43.

They forced a punt 2.5 minutes later, and Eric Decker brought Mike Scifres’ 43-yard kick back 47 yards to the San Diego 30.

The Broncos got as close as the four-yard line in the final minute before half, but an ill-advised pass from Manning to a covered Decker bounced off the receiver’s chest and into the arms of Donald Butler.

Instead of a potential 17- or 21-point lead, Denver went to halftime up just 14-0.

Trindon Holliday took the second-half kickoff back to the Denver 36, and the Broncos made it as far as the San Diego 24, but a false start by Julius Thomas and a drop by Welker near the goal line halted their drive.

Matt Prater’s 45-yard attempt was barely good, sailing over the right goalpost to extend Denver’s lead to 17-0.

Once the Broncos got the ball back, they failed to convert from 1st-and-5 in FG range, and Prater’s

47-yard attempt sailed wide left.

It was a questionable decision to kick, as a conversion would have put the Broncos up 20-0, which isn’t really a whole lot better than 17-0 (still a three-score game).

From there, San Diego needed just six plays to get within 17-7, as Philip Rivers hit Keenan Allen for a 16-yard touchdown.

Denver’s subsequent drive benefited from an iffy pass interference call on a third down pass well over Welker’s head, and the nine-play possession went for 81 yards, 4:47 of game time, and stretched the advantage back to 17, as Knowshon Moreno punched it in from three yards out.

But Rivers & Co. needed only seven plays and 2:29 to go 80 yards, with Allen’s fourth touchdown catch in two games against Denver making the score 24-14.

On San Diego’s touchdown drives, Rivers victimized former longtime teammate Quentin Jammer for several chunky gains.

The Chargers then recovered an onside kick, and Novak’s 30-yarder made it a one-score game at 24-17.

From there, San Diego kicked deep, but never got the ball back, as Manning converted a pair of huge third downs to Julius Thomas - a 21-yard sideline throw and tiptoeing catch with 17 to gain, and a nine-yard dart when they needed six.

Key Numbers

Denver was 9/13 converting third downs

San Diego held Denver under 400 yards of total offense in each of their three meetings (363 today)

The Chargers did manage to limit Denver's possessions to just eight, but the Broncos never punted

Over the three games, the Broncos turned the ball over four times but never took it away from the Chargers

This is the third time Denver has won a playoff game while losing the turnover battle - the last was their Revenge Tour victory over the Chiefs (also a 0-2 turnover disadvantage)

TJ reacts to the Broncos' 24-17 win over the Chargers in the divisional round of the 2013 playoffs

I think maybe it's more of what Michael Irvin was pointing out on the NFLN highights - Jammer shouldn't be on the opponent's best WR. DRC should be on that guy, and let Jammer play the other guy. I think if we see him next week, he'll be a better player.

Posted by carsonic on 2014-01-13 06:46:13

I agree...hate to say it, but it looked like he secured it but it was in the process of getting ripped out before he went down

Posted by Evan on 2014-01-13 01:12:56

IMO, there were three options1) the ruling on the field of a catch and fumble2) catch with clear control and two feet down, then down by contact3) never had complete control until he was going to the ground. Did not maintain control upon hitting the ground so incomplete.I think there was irrefutable evidence that #1 was not the right call, but I don't think that there was irrefutable evidence that #2 or #3 were the correct call. So I am guessing they had no choice but to stay with the call originally made on the field.

Posted by MattR on 2014-01-13 00:57:26

Definitely it was Beadles. Good catch, Dubs.

Posted by VonSwenson on 2014-01-13 00:19:46

The call on the field had to have irrefutable evidence to overturn it. Had it been called the other way and challenged the same thing should have happened.

Was it a fumble IMO yes. Even though I'm a homer for Denver.

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2014-01-13 00:16:54

Almost every pass completion was on Jammer. Not sure why champ was not playing against the kid after Harris went down. Anyone know about that?

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2014-01-13 00:11:06

No one knows, Rileyrott. Pereira thought it should have been an incomplete, I personally thought it should have been a catch (because there´s one frame where you could see his butt on the ground with the ball firmly in hand), and here´s what Matt Miller (NFL Scout) had to say: https://twitter.com/nfldraftsc...

Posted by Goéland on 2014-01-13 00:06:07

It was Zane's voice. Watch his head when Julius moves.

Posted by Dubs on 2014-01-12 23:35:53

Whatever happened to Stickeyman?

Posted by Alaskan on 2014-01-12 23:07:32

They´re on crack? I don´t know, at this point I´d be ready to accept alien abductions as the explanation, because their decisions are sure out of this world.

Posted by Goéland on 2014-01-12 22:32:51

I agree, but it still ended up giving the Chargers an extra possession.

Posted by Goéland on 2014-01-12 22:31:28

I agree. Great defense 3/4, let some get through in 4th. Jammer???? WTF?

Posted by Rileyrott on 2014-01-12 22:24:29

It amazes me...that even after a slow-motion review...the refs STILL get it so obviously wrong. WTF are they seeing that WE aren't??? I don't get it.

Posted by Rileyrott on 2014-01-12 22:22:33

Denver didn't lose any fumbles today, not really. The ref (even after watching the video) totally blew that one - an obvious incompletion).

There is no way at all that was a fumble. Fortunately, Clete is gone. I hope Steratore calls the game next week, because against the Pats, we´d better get a good ref (for real, not according to the standads that had Triplette officiating during the playoffs).

Posted by Goéland on 2014-01-12 20:50:48

Same here. I thought it was him live, but if you listen to it back to back with "Goddamnit Donald," it does sound different.

Posted by AldenBrown on 2014-01-12 20:50:06

Fox has learned. The way he answered in the post-game press conference was very revealing in that regard. Not because of what he said (when asked about last year´s game and its lessons, he said he wouldn´t "take the bait"), but because of what he didn´t say (no mention of milking the clock in any way or form). What we need? Honestly, one game where we don´t lose any defensive starter, and no fumbles.

Posted by Goéland on 2014-01-12 20:47:26

Teo's girlfriend got him

Posted by nachoplease on 2014-01-12 20:47:19

I agree. I don't know who it was but it definitely wasn't Manning.

Posted by IDBronco on 2014-01-12 20:45:58

I thought it was Peyton when it happened, but no way is that Peyton's voice.

Posted by Yahmule on 2014-01-12 20:43:30

I hear you, but I guess it didn't seem like an obvious error. Sure hindsight is 20/20 but at the time it didn't seem that egregious to make that big of deal about it.

Posted by IDBronco on 2014-01-12 20:40:46

I dunno man, y kick a 50ish yarder on 4th and medium into gusting winds? 3 points just doesn't do much for me in that situation.

Posted by ElwayIsGod7 on 2014-01-12 20:39:03

Also, on the suspect PI call, there were actually two penalties on the play. The one Denver accepted was what I thought was the suspect call. Either of the penalties would have resulted in a first down.

Posted by IDBronco on 2014-01-12 20:38:30

It was closer than it should of been, but i'm glad Denver showed they had learned from last year by throwing it in the 4-minute offense (although 3rd and 17 kinda forced it).

Next game is a new game. It will be a different animal. Hopefully the Broncos are ready to adapt and advance.

Posted by Justin Weber on 2014-01-12 20:38:13

Can only imagine the outrage if Cutler did that lol

Posted by ElwayIsGod7 on 2014-01-12 20:37:15

The situation that Denver was in when they attempted the second field goal, I really didn't have a problem with it. It would have been 4th and I thought fairly long. I think without the wind he would have made it fairly easily. I have to say though, I was figuring he was going to do exactly what he did and overcompensate for the first one.

Posted by IDBronco on 2014-01-12 20:36:41

That doesn't sound like Manning at all. Sounds like a guy in the stands.

Posted by Justin Weber on 2014-01-12 20:35:40

This was the McCoy that I remember. I thought he should have opened it up earlier than to try sticking with the run like he did when it clearly wasn't working.

Posted by IDBronco on 2014-01-12 20:32:55

Yeah, I think Decker is getting a little more grief than he rightfully deserves. The punter hit him hard enough to tweak his back pretty good.

Posted by IDBronco on 2014-01-12 20:31:19

I don't think he tripped on a gopher again, he was hit pretty hard by the kicker's face mask on the calf 2 steps before he went down. I'm surprised he wasn't injured by that.

Posted by Random Anonymous Coward on 2014-01-12 20:23:20

Let's hope that the refs are more consistent next week. DRC was amazing today and Carter needs to play instead of Jammer vs Pats